Lavendula plant named ‘LARKMAN BEE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavendula hybrida  cultivar named ‘LARKMAN BEE’ is disclosed, characterized by late Winter to early Spring flowering and moderate Fall reblooming. Flowers are distinctively blue-violet with larger terminal bracts. Plants are compact, with a slow to moderate growth habit. The new variety is a  Lavendula  hybrid, suitable to outdoor landscape and container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lavendula hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘LARKMAN BEE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program under thedirection of the inventor, Clive Larkman, a citizen of the Australia.The objective of the breeding program was to produce Lavendula cultivarswith large, high quality flowers. The seed parent is an unnamed,unpatented, plant of Lavendula pedunculata. The pollen parent is anunnamed plant of an unidentified Lavendula species. The new variety wasdiscovered 1996, by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting fromthat crossing, in Invercargill New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LARKMAN BEE’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed in Invercargill New Zealand and has shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LARKMAN BEE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LARKMAN BEE’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LARKMAN BEE’ as a new and distinct Lavendulacultivar:

-   -   1. Blue-violet flowers.    -   2. Unusually early blooming in late winter.    -   3. Moderate Fall re-blooming.    -   4. Moderate to slow growth habit to 25 cm in height.    -   5. Compact plants, resisting breaking apart with age.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LARKMAN BEE’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Lavendula pedunculata in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘LARKMAN BEE’produce consistently dark colored flowers, whereas the parent varietyproduces flowers of inconsistent color. Additionally, the new varietyproduces flowers with more terminal bracts; 4 to 6 compared to 2 to 3 ofthe seed parent. The terminal bracts of the new variety are alsotypically much wavier in appearance than the seed parent. Plants of thenew variety are more compact, with a less open center than plants of theseed parent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color aclose-up of typical floral bracts and leaves of ‘LARKMAN BEE’ grownoutdoors in Southern California. Age of the plant is approximately 6months. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘LARKMAN BEE’ plants grown outdoors inSouthern California from Fall to Spring. The growing temperature rangedfrom approximately 10 to 15° C. at night to 20 to 30° C. during the day.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalflowering types. No chemical or photoperiodic treatments were given.

-   Botanical classification: Lavendula hybrid cultivar ‘LARKMAN BEE.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 20 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root description: Fine, well branched.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, aromatic perennial.-   Height: Approximately 25 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 40 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate to slow.-   Branching characteristics: Moderate branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately .3 cm.-   Texture of lateral branches: Rough, developing a woody texture.-   Internode length: Approximately 2 cm.-   Strength of stem: Flexible and strong.-   Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Grey-Brown 199A.-   Aspect: Upright.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 100.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Average length.—Approximately 2.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately .4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Murcronate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately .4 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 136D.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138C. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N138B. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 139C.        -   Venation.—Type: One very prominent mid-vein, with a fine            network of much smaller veins. Venation color upper side:            Near RHS Green N138C.        -   Venation color under side.—Near RHS Green 139D.-   Petiole: Not present.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Naturally blooming profusely February through mid-May.    Moderate reblooming in the Fall.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in            spikes. 9 to 11 rows of flowers. Flowers have small bracts,            and large showy terminal bracts. Florets: Corolla tube is            2-lipped. Size individual flowers: Length: Approximately            .3 cm. Diameter: Approximately .2 cm. Depth: Approximately 2            cm.        -   Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.—Length:            Approximately 2.4 cm. Width: Approximately 1.4 cm.            Coloration of individual flowers and entire spikes,            excluding terminal bracts: Immature: Near RHS Blue 99A.            Mature: Near RHS Violet-Blue 96B. Fading: Near RHS            Violet-Blue 96D.-   Terminal bracts:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.        -   Duration on plant.—Approximately 6 weeks, with good color.            Persistent.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute, with irregular very shallow lobes.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Duration on plant.—Approximately 6 weeks, with good color.            Persistent.        -   Color.—Upper side of immature bract: Near RHS Violet-Blue            96B. Under side of immature bract: Near RHS Violet-Blue 96B.            Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet-Blue 96C. Under            side of mature bract: Near RHS Violet-Blue 96B.-   Fragrance: Strong Lavender scent.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately .2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright.

Color: Near RHS Green N138D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—2 to 4.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.05 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 7A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Minimal.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Hardy perennial. Tolerates    high temperature to at least 32° C. Tolerates low temperatures to    −12° C. While specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once    plants are established very little water is necessary to maintain    plants.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavendula plant named ‘LARKMAN BEE,’as herein illustrated and described.